Frederick johnson



P. JOHNSON.

FENCE STAPLE.

(No Model.)

No. 575,455. Patented Feb, 2, 189

UNTTED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

FREDERICK JOHNSON, OF \VASIIINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FENCE-STAPLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,455, dated February 2, 1897'.

Application filed December 18, 1896- Serial No. 616,171. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Staples, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fasteners for securing wires to fence-posts or other supports; and it has forits object to simplify and cheapen the cost of such fasteners and at the same time increase their efficiency. The staples ordinarily in use in the construction of wire fences, &e., do not permit the subsequent removal of the wire without serious inconvenience and more or less injury to the wire whenever it is desired to take down or alter a fence of this kind. This invention, while holding the wire it attaches with security and firmness, permits of its removal and reinsertion at pleasure and without injury to the wire.

IVith these objects in view the invention consists in a fastener formed of a single strand of wire bent in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of a fastener with awire in engagement therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. i is a perspective view of a modification. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a plan View of another modification. Fig. 7 is a sectional view thereof on the line so m. Fig. Sis a plan view of another modification.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the fastener, formed of a single strand of wire, which may be either round or angular in cross-sections. This strand is bent to form a bifurcated or recessed head 1, from which the two ends of the wire extend rearwardly to form shanks 2 3, which are preferably sharpened at their rear ends to enable them to be more easily driven into a support. At their forward ends each of the shanks terminates in a loop or bend t, the shank 2 being bent upward and then downward to form a shoulder or bearing 6 at the upper side of the bifurcated head, the shank then merging into the central bend 5, while the shank 3 is bent downward and thence upward, forming a bearing 7 at the under side of the head, the shank then merging into the bend 5. This central bend is obliquelydisposed with respect to the planes of the shanks 2 3 and is adapted to receive a wire 8, which may be inserted laterally therein.

In the use of the invention when it is desired to string wires horizontally the fastener is correspondingly inserted into the post or support and the wire is inserted laterally into the'recess of the head to extend over the shank 2 and under the shank 3 inside of the bearings 6 7, thus causing it to bear firmly upon the shanks, forming slight bends in the wire, which prevent its movement lengthwise and making contact with the bearings, which prevent the lateral withdrawal of the wire from engagement. By raising the wire 8 somewhat and depressing it on the opposite side of the staple it may be removed from the recess and by reversing the process can be reinserted.

A modified form of the invention :is illus trated in Figs. 4: and 5 of the drawings, in which the shoulders or bearings 9 10 of the shanks 2 3, respectively, are in the same plane as the shanks instead of extending above and below said plane. .As shown in these figures, the wire strand is bent centrally to form an opening 12, and the forward ends of the shanks are bent inwardly toward each other to form a contracted neck to the opening and merge into the central bend 5, thereby forming the bearings 9 10, with which the wire strand makes contact.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated another modification of the invention, wherein the wire strand is formed with a central U-shaped bend 15, from which the shanks 2 3 extend rearwardly and for a portion of their length lie in contact with arms 16 17 of the said bend. At a point near the central bend the upper side of the arm 16 is indented for a short dis tance to form a recess 18, the ends of which constitute bearings for the wire strand, and the arm 17 of the bend at a point upon its under side is provided with a similar recess 19, which is in transverse alinement with the recess 18.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate still another modified form of fastener which is intended to be inserted vertically into the support, and, as shown, the shanks 2 3 are in the same plane and their forward ends are bent inwardly toward each other to form loops 20 21, the inner edge of one of which extends into the plane occupied by the other loop, but said loops are left separated to permit the lateral insertion of the wire when it is slightly inclined. When the wire is drawn taut, however, its lateral escape from the bifurcated head of the fastener is prevented by the bearings 22 23, formed by the loops.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A wire-fastener consisting of a single strand of wire bent to form a bifurcated head,

each arm of the bifurcated head being formed with a bearing, substantially as described.

2. A wire-fastener consisting of a single strand of wire bent to form abifurcated head and two separated shanks, each arm of the bifurcated head being formed with a bearing, substantially as described.

3. A wire-fastener consisting of a single strand of wire bent to form a bifurcated head, and two bearings, one of the bearings extending above the plane of the head from one arm thereof and the other extending below the plane of the head from the opposite arm thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK JOHNSON. lVitnesses:

W M. G. Bonus, EDWARD A. Burrs. 

